Broom attachment.



J. STEINE.

BROOM ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1913.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH 60., \VASHINGTDN. n. c.

rrED sa'ras PAT cries.

JACOB STEINE, OF MONTROSE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BBQOIVI ATTACHMENT.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JACOB STEINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montrose, in the county of Susquehanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Broom Attachments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in broom attachments, and more particularly to that class of attachments which will automatically distribute a quantity of dust allaying or absorbing powder to the floor, in advance of the broom in sweeping.

An object of this invention is to provide an attachment of this character which is adapted to be secured to one side of a broom, and which comprises a hopper the bottom of which is formed with a plurality of openings, through which the dust-absorbing material may be distributed. In carrying out my invention, I provide a slide disposed on the bottom of said hopper, said slide having a plurality of openings adapted to register with the openings in the bottom of the hopper, the openings in the slide being normally out of alinement with the openings in the bottom of the hopper, and the slide being connected to a brush which is adapted to engage the floor in sweeping, so that the slide will be moved upon each sweeping stroke of the broom to aline the openings in the bottom of the hopper and in the slide.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel construction. combination and arrangement of parts. to behereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompany ing drawing, in Which-- Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in section of the hopper; Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear view thereof; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the hopper showing it attached to a broom.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a broom of any desired construction, to one side of which a hopper 2 is secured by suitable bands 3. The hopper is of substantially the same configuration as the broom, and the outer face of the hopper is provided with a filling opening 4 which is closed by a hinged cover 5. The lower end of the hopper is of substantially the same width as the width Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 28, 1913.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

Serial No. 770,432.

of the broom, and the medial portion of the bottom 6 of the hopper is provided with a series of openings 7 through which the dust absorbing or allaying powder 8 contained within the hopper is adapted to pass. Arranged upon the bottom of the hopper is a slide 9, which is formed near its outer edge with a series of openings 10, the slide being normally adapted to close the openings 7 in the bottom of the hopper, and the openings 10 in the slide being adapted to register with the openings 7 when the slide is moved rearwardly in the hopper. The rear face of the hopper is formed in its lower end intermediate of the side edges of the hopper with an elongated slot 11 which is provided with a continuation 12 in the bottom of the hopper, the slots being covered by a casing 13 which projects inwardly within the bottom of the hopper. A lever 14 is pivotally mounted at its upper end within the casing 13, the lower end of the lever projecting below the bottom of the hopper, the lever be ing preferably constructed of channel iron, and slidably disposed in the channel of the lever below the hopper, is the shank 15 of a brush 16. A collar 17 is provided on the lower extremity of the lever 14:, the collar surrounding the shank 15 of the brush, and a set screw 18 projects through the collar into engagement with the shank 15 to main tain the brush 16 in engagement with the lever.

The slide 9 is provided near its forward edge with an upstanding pin 19, and one end of a coil spring 20 is secured to the upstanding pin 19, the opposite end of the spring projecting through the casing 13 and being connected to the lever 14. To provide means for limiting the rearward movement of the slide 9, set screws 21 are adjustably disposed in the rear wall of the hopper 2 in the path of the slide. It will be seen that when the lever 14- is moved rearwardly upon the engagement of the brush 16 with the floor, the slide 9 will also be moved rearwardly by reason of the engagement of the spring 20 with the lever and the slide, whereby the openings 7 and 10 in the bottom of the hopper and the slide respectively will register to allow the powder contained within the receptacle to flow through the registering openings. The set screw 21 may be adjusted within the hopper to any desired distance to limit the rearward movement of the slide 9 whereby the size of the openings 7 may be regulated to permit of any desired quantity of powder to flow through the openings. To return the slide 9 to its forward position to close the open ings in the bottom of the hopper when the brush is moved from the floor, sprin s 22 are provided, one end of each spring being connected to the front wall of the casing, and the opposite end being connected to a pin 23 which projects upwardly from the slide near its rear edge.

In the practical use of my device, the hopper 2 is connected to the broom by means of the bands, and the brush 16 is adjusted so that the lower end thereof is in alinement. with the lower end of the broom, so that the brush 16 will engage the floor when the broom is used for sweeping. It will be seen that when the broom and brush are engaged with the floor, and a forward sweeping motion is made with the broom, the brush it) will be moved rearwardly with relation to the hopper, whereupon the lever 1 L will also be moved rearwardly to move the slide .9 so that the openings 10 therein register with the openings 7 in the hopper thereby allowing a quantity of the powder contained within the hopper to pass to the floor in advance of the broom. The spring 20 which connects the lever with the slide is preferably stiff enough to move the slide upon movement of the lever without opening the coils of the spring until the slide engages with the set screws 21 whereupon the strain which would normally be imposed upon the lever and slide is taken up by the spring. When the broom is raised from the floor, the springs 22 return the slide to its forward position, thereby closing the openings 7 in the hopper until another sweeping motion is made with the broom whereupon the operation of the slide is repeated.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that I have provided an attachment which may be readily applied to a broom, which will be etlicient in operation, and one which will automatically distribute any desired quantity of dust allaying or absorbing powder to the floor in advance of the broom in sweeping.

What I claim is:

1. A broom attachment comprising a hopper connected to one face of the broom, the bottom of said hopper being provided with a plurality of openings, a slide having a plurality of openings for registration with the openings in the hopper arranged upon the bottom thereof, said slide being normally adapted to close the openings in said hopper, and means connected to the slide for engagement with the floor whereby the slide will be moved to let the openings therein register with the openings in the bottom of the hopper upon a sweeping motion of the broom, as and for the purpose described.

2. A broom attachment comprising a hopper arranged upon one face of the broom, the bottom of said hopper having a plurality of openings therein, a slide disposed upon the bottom of said hopper and having a plurality of openings therein for registration with the openings in the hopper, a lever pivotally connected to said hopper and depending therefrom, a brush connected to said lever, the lower end of said brush being in alinement with the lower end of said broom, and means connecting said lever and said slide, whereby the slide will be moved so that the openings therein register with the openings in the bottom. of the hopper when the broom is engaged with the floor, and a sweeping motion is made therewith.

3. in attachment for brooms or the like, comprising a hopper, the bottom of said hopper having a plurality of openings therein, a slide arranged upon the bottom of said hopper and being provided with a plurality of openings adapted for registration with the openings in the bottom of the hopper, means connected to said slide and adapted for engagement with the floor, vhereby the slide will be moved so that the openings therein register with the openings in the bottom of the hopper when the broom is engaged with the floor and a sweeping motion is made therewith, and means for limiting the movement of said slide whereby the size of the openings in the bottom of the hopper is regulated, as and for the purpose de scribed.

l. An attachment for brooms or the like,

comprising a hopper having a plurality of openings in the bottom thereof, a slide arranged upon the bottom of said hopper and having a plurality of openings for registration with the openings in the hopper, a lever pivotally connected to the lower end of the hopper and depending therefrom, a brush connected to the lever, the lower end of said brush'being disposed in alinement with the lower end of'the broom, a spring connecting said lever and said slide, whereby upon movement of the brush, the slide will be moved so that the openings therein register with the openings in the bot-tom of the hopper, means for limiting the movement of said slide, and means for returning said slide to its normal position, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. JACOB STEINE. lVitnesses F. A. DAVIES, MARY JAGGER.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

